Three proteins that could predict chronic lung transplant rejection up to 20 months before clinical manifestations of rejection becomes apparent, have been identified. Mass spectrometry and bioinfomatics confirmed previous findings that the levels of human neutrophil peptide (HNP) was three times more likely to be elevated among those who later suffered chronic rejection. Additionally, among the 265 proteins upregulated in lung rejection, matrix metalloprotein-9 and proteinase 3 were associated with chronic lung rejection.

The information could offer inroads to new therapies [snip]. Doctors may be able to increase the dose of anti-rejection drugs when the early markers of rejection appear. Or, they may reduce anti-rejection drugs for people who do not show early signs of rejection.

These findings were published will be presented during the ongoing Physiological Genomics and Proteomics of Lung Disease Conference. Further research aims to determine what role these proteins play in the development of chronic lung rejection.

Source: The American Physiological Society Image: Wikipedia